Power-operated loader adjusting mechanism



Dec. 25, 1951 5 RANDOLPH 2,579,963

POWER-OPERATED LOADER ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 11, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 A f INVENTOR. A l \QJ J51. oo/v L. IBM/0am BY Dec. 25, 1951 s, RANDOLPH 2,579,963

POWER-OPERATED LOADER ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 11, 1950 2' sx-mms-smm 2 Mi INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 POWER-OPERATED LOADER ADJUSTING MECHANISM 7 Scldon L. Randolph, Loraine, Ill.

Application August 11, 1950, Serial No. 178,870

4 Claims.

This invention relates to power operated loaders for loading and unloading grain and similar material and more particularly to power operated mechanism applied to such a loader for varying the elevation of the delivery end of the loader.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide ona power operated loader power operated mechanism for adjustably varying the elevation of the delivery end of the loader which mechanism can be installed on an existing loader with no material modification of the loader construction and can be driven by the existing power plant by which the loader itself is driven, which is manually controllable to adjustably raise or lower the delivery end of the loader, and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to install, and positive and efiective in operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a loader equipped wtih power operated height adjusting means illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the height adjusting mechanism, portions being broken away and shown in cross section to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the height adjusting mechanism, portions being broken away and shown in cross section to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the mechanism showing the parts in a different operative position from that illustrated in Figure 3.

With continued reference to the drawings, the loader, particularly illustrated in Figure l, is of known construction and includes an elongated belt conveyor unit Ill having on its delivery end a material directing and deflecting spout H and having its intake end connected to a box or hopper 12 into which the material, such as grain, may be deposited from a truck or wagon.

In one use of the device, the hopper I2 is disposed on the ground at a convenient location and the spout l I is placed in the window of a granary or other storage structure, and grain is brought to the loader on trucks or wagons and deposited into the box or hopper l2 from which it is elevated by the belt conveyor unit l0 and delivered through the spout H into a bin or other storage compartment at the inner side of the window through which the spout extends. As the windows through which the grain is delivered into the storage structures are at different heights above the ground, it is necessary to provide means for raising and lowering the delivery end of the conveyor unit to accommodate the same to different window heights. Where the device is used for moving material from a storage area onto vehicles, it is necessary to raise the delivery end of the conveyor unit as the height of a load increases to keep the spout I l properly spaced from the top of the load to avoid clogging or spilling of the material.

As the loader must be used at various locations, it is made portable and to this end, an axle 13 disposed below the conveyor unit I 0 intermediate the length of the latter is carried by wheels 14 and the conveyor unit is supported on suitable struts extending from the axle to the conveyor unit. One pair of struts I5 is secured at corresponding ends to the axle I3 and has the opposite ends of the struts slidably engaging the under side of the conveyor unit at a location between the delivery end of the conveyor unit and the mid-length location of the latter. Another pair of struts i6 is secured at corresponding ends to the axle l3 and is pivotally secured at their opposite ends to the conveyor unit [0 near the intake end of the conveyor unit. A pair of masts I1 extends upwardly from the axle at respectively opposite sides of the conveyor unit and are normally substantially vertical disposed.

A cable drum I8 is journaled at its ends on the masts I1 intermediate the length of the masts and is disposed substantially perpendicular to the masts. Cables [9 are wound, each at one end on the drum l8 and are carried over sheaves 20 mounted one at the upper end of each of the masts l1. At their other ends these cables I!) are respectively connected to the struts I5 at the ends of these struts engaging the under surface of the conveyor unit ID.

A worm wheel 2! is mounted at one end of the cable drum l8 and a worm shaft 22 having a worm 23 thereon meshing with the worm wheel 2|, is supported in bearings 2 carried by the masts I! for rotating the cable drum. In loaders currently in use, a hand crank is secured to the worm shaft 22 for manually rotating the cable drum l8.

When the cable drum I8 is rotated in one direction to wind in the cables [9, the struts I 5 are pulled toward the masts I! so that their upper ends slide along the lower surface of the conveyor unit away from the delivery end of the latter and thereby raise the delivery end of the conveyor unit. When the cable drum is rotated in the opposite direction, the cables are let out, permitting the struts I5 to move toward the delivery end of the conveyor unit, thereby lowering the delivery end of the unit.

As the conveyor unit is a heavy structure, manual rotation of the cable drum to raise and lower the delivery end of this unit is extremely laborious and time consuming and, when the height of the delivery end of the loader conveyor unit must be frequently adjusted, the present manual operation of the height adjusting means materially reduces the efiiciency of operation, decreases the capacity of the unit, and may even necessitate the employment of additional labor to operate the manual adjusting means.

Suitable power means is mounted on the loader, preferably on the conveyor unit near the intake end of the latter to drive the conveyor belt. The power means may be a small gasoline engine, an electric motor or a power shaft which may be connected to and driven from the power take off of a farm tractor. In the present illustration the power unit is shown as a small gasoline engine 25, having its power shaft 26 connected to the drive shaft of the conveyor unit by a suitable flexible torque connection 21.

It is conceived that the efficiency of the loader can be greatly increased by using power from the power unit 25 to rotate the height adjusting cable drum l8 and the present inventionrelates to the provision on the leader of suitable mechanism for this purpose,

In accordance with the present invention, a bracket plate 30 extends transversely below the conveyor unit if) between the masts il and the power unit 25 and is supported from the conveyor unit by suitable hangers 3i and 32 which are respectively secured to the opposite side frames of the conveyor unit and depend therefrom, the lower ends of these hangers being secured to the plate 30 at the respectively opposite ends of the latter. A bracket 33 is secured to the plate 35 near one end of the plate and extends from the plate toward the cable drum !8 and a hollow gear housing 3 is mounted on the bracket 33 at the side of the latter remote from the plate 35.

A Worm shaft 35 is journaled in the housing 34, to extend transversely of theconveyor unit below the latter, and a worm 36 is providedon this shaft intermediate the length thereof.

A worm gear shaft 3'! is journaled in the housing 34 and is spaced from and substantially at right angles .to the worm shaft 35. The worm gear shaft 31 .extends longitudinally of the conveyor unit and a worm gear .38 is secured on the shaft 37 within the housing 34 and meshes with the worm .36.

A belt pulley 45 is secured on the drive shaft 26 of the power unit 25 and a belt pulley 4! larger than the belt pulley 40 is secured on the worm shaft 35 outside of the housing 34. A belt 42 extends loosely around the belt pulleys 46 and 4| and, while in its loose condition, provides no driving connection between these pulleys, the pulley 4B merely slipping around in the loose belt without driving the belt.

A lever 43 is pivotally mounted intermediate its length on'the worm shaft 36 outside of the housing 34 and a belt tightening pulley 44 is journaled on the lower end of this lever below the belt 42. The pulley 44 may be brought into engagement .drum l8 and a drive shaft 46 of square or other noncircular cross sectional shape is secured at one end to the assembly 45. A similar universal joint assembly 41 is secured to the end of worm shaft 22 adjacent the gear housing 34 and a tubular shaft 48 of square or other noncircular cross sectional shape is secured at one end to the universal joint assembly 41. The tubular shaft 48 telescopically receives the shaft 46 so that the two shafts 46 and 48 provide a variable length drive shaft connected between the worm gear shaft 31 and the worm shaft 22 which drives the worm gear 2|, rotating the cable drum l8.

With the above described arrangement, when the belt 42 is tightened by the belt tightener including the lever 43 and roller 44, and with the power unit 25 in operation, the worm shaft 22 will be driven to turn'the worm gear 2| and rotate the cable drum H3 to raise or lower the delivery end of the conveyor unit 1,0. When the belt 42 is mounted on the pulleys'40 and 4| in a straight condition, as illustrated in Figure 3, the cable drum will be rotated in a manner to raise the delivery end of the conveyor unit. When it is desired to lower the delivery end of the conveyor unit, oneend of the belt 4,2 is removed from the corresponding pulley and the belt is twisted or. crossed over and replaced on the pulley inthe condition illustrated. in Figure 5 When the crossed over belt is tightened by the belt tightening roller 44 the cable drum ,I,8 will be rotated in a direction to lower the delivery end of the conveyor unit of the loader. When the tension imposed on the belt by the belt, tightenin roller 44 is released and the drive between the pulleys 453 and 4! discontinued, the loader conveyor unit will be held in its position of adjustment because of the irreversible worm andworm gear assemblies.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing fromthe spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, tobe considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a power operated loader including an elongated conveyor unit, a wheel supported axle, masts extending upwardly from said axle at respectively opposite sides of said conveyor unit, conveyor unit supporting struts extending from said axle and slidably engaging said conveyor unit between said masts and the delivery end of said conveyor unit, other struts extending from said axle and secured to said conveyor unit near the intake end of the latter, a cable drum journaled on said masts, a cable sheave mounted on one of said masts,a cable wound at one end on said drum and extended over said sheave to a connection between its other end and the first. mentioned struts to raise and lower the delivery end ofsaid conveyor .unit by sliding Said first mentioned struts along the under surface of the conveyor unit, means connected to one end of said drum for rotating the latter to wind and unwind-said cable, and a conveyor-operating power means, a bracket mounted on said conveyor unit at the side of said masts adjacent said power means, a gear housing mounted on said bracket, a worm shaft journaled in said gear housing and having a worm thereon, a worm gear shaft journaled in said housing with its axis extending longitudinally of said conveyor unit, a worm gear on said worm gear shaft meshing with said worm, a belt pulley on said worm shaft, a belt pulley on said power means, a belt extending loosely around said belt pulleys, a manually operated belt tightener mounted on said gear housing and engageable with said belt to establish a driving connection between said belt pulleys, and a variable length drive shaft connected at one end to said worm gear shaft and connected at its other end to said drum rotating means to provide a driving connection between said worm shaft and said drum.

2. In combination with a mechanical loader including a support, a conveyor unit, first means pivotally connecting said conveyor unit at one end to said support, second means pivotally mounted on said support and supporting said conveyor unit intermediate the length of the latter, a cable drum, third means pivotally mounted on and upstanding from said support and carrying said cable drum, a cable wound on said drum and connected to said second means for raising and lowering said conveyor unit upon rotation of said drum, fourth means carried by said third means and drivingly connected to said cable drum to impart rotational movements to the latter, a conveyor-operating power unit. adjacent said one end of said conveyor unit, gear means carried by said conveyor unit adjacent said power unit, manually controllable means drivingly connecting said power unit to said gear means, and means including an adjustable length shaft drivingly connecting said gear means to said fourth means for driving said cable drum from said power unit under manual control.

3. In combination with a mechanical loader including a support, a conveyor unit, first means pivotally connecting said conveyor unit at one end to said support, second means pivotally mounted on said support and supporting said conveyor unit intermediate the length of the latter, a cable drum, third means pivotally mounted on and upstanding from said support and carrying said cable drum, a cable wound on said drum and connected to said second means for raising and lowering said conveyor unit upon rotation of said drum, fourth means carried by said third means and drivingly connected to said cable drum to impart rotational movements to the latter, a conveyor-operating power unit adjacent said one end of said conveyor unit, gear means carried by said conveyor unit adjacent said power unit, manually controllable means drivingly connecting said power unit to said gear means, and means including an adjustable length shaft drivingly connecting said gear means to said fourth means for driving said cable drum from said power unit under manual control, said fourth means comprising a first gear on said cable drum, a first gear housing mounted on said third means and surrounding said first gear, a first shaft journaled in said first housing and connected at one end to the adjacent end of said adjustable length shaft, and a second gear mounted on said first shaft within said first gear housing and meshing with said first gear.

4. In combination with a mechanical loader including a support, a conveyor unit, first means pivotally connecting said conveyor unit at one end to said sup-port, second means pivotally mounted on said support and supporting said conveyor unit intermediate the length of the latter, a cable drum, third means pivotally mounted on and upstanding from said support and carrying said cable drum, a cable wound on said drum and connected to said second means for raising and lowering said conveyor unit upon rotation of said drum, fourth means carried by said third means and drivingly connected to said cable drum to impart rotational movements to the latter, a conveyor-operating power unit adjacent said one end of said conveyor unit, gear means carried by said conveyor unit adjacent said power unit, manuaily controllable means drivingly connecting said power unit to said gear means, and means including an adjustable length shaft drivingly connecting said gear means to said fourth means for driving said cable drum from said power unit under manual control, said fourth means comprising a first gear on said cable drum, a first gear housing mounted on said third means and surrounding said first gear, a first shaft journaled in said first housing and connected at one end to the adjacent end of said adjustable length shaft, and a second gear mounted on said first shaft within said first gear hpusing and meshing with said first gear, said second means comprising a second gear housing mounted on said conveyor unit, a second shaft journaled in said second housing and connected at one end to the adjacent end of said adjustable length shaft, a third shaft journaled in said second gear housing, gears mounted one on each of said'sec- 0nd and third shafts within said second gear housing and drivingly connecting said third shaft to said second shaft, and said manually controllable means including belt pulleys mounted one on said third shaft and one on said power unit and a belt connecting said belt pulleys.

SELDON L. RANDOLPH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,471,763 Wentz Oct. 23, 1923 1,659,973 Goodner Feb. 21, 1928 1,706,313 Newdick Mar. 19, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 571,201 Germany Feb. 24, 1933 

